Socket-shell cap and insulating-lining therefor.



} 1. KEEFE. SOCKET SHELL CAP AND INSULATING LINING THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1912.

1 ,209,167. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

921M385 0O I I 2 7 z! MENTOR WW a A manner refer to similar parts in the several FiiTI/E,

' JOSEPH KEEFE, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ZEE SOCKET AND MANUFACTURING C01V.[1AI\TY, 0F .BOSTON', MASSACHUSETTS, A 'CORPQRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SOCKET-SHELL CAP AND INSULATIIl'G-LINING THEREFQR.

Specification of Letters Patent. p g ms g, n, 393

Application filed September 10, 19 12. i Serial No. 719,556.

in connection with the accompanying draw- 1 ing, which forms a part of the same.

This invention relates to socket shells and.

insulating linings therefor. v

More particularly it relates to a new and improved socket cap, and to a cooperating removable insulating lining for the cap which can be readily pressed into the cap which is so formed as to securely hold it without the aid ofinterior projections, shoulders or other looking or securing members. f

My invention further relatesflto "both the improved cap and the improved insulating lining as separate articles of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing showing illustrative embodiments of my invention, and in which the same reference numerals figures, Figure 1 is a verticalsection through my improved cap equipped with my improved insulating lining; Fig. 2- is a vertical section of the cap and a side elevation of the insulating lining; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insulating lining.

It has been old prior to my invention to use a removable insulating lining for the cap of socket shellswhich was held within the cap by some locking or fastening gnechanism on the interior ofthe cap, the insulating member, or some portion of it, being sprung or bent to pass over some obstruction or projection, reliance being placed upon the insulating member again springing out into its original condition to co operate with the interior projections'so as to prevent the insulating lining from falling out of the cap. These insulating 31inings are usually made of fiber, as is well known in the art, and are usually cut away to form notches or other surfaces to cooperate with shoulders or surfaces within the cap.

In. practice, immense numbers of electric light sockets and their casings are sold to manufacturers of electric fixtures to be assembled with the other portions of the fixtures made, or assembled, by such manufacturers. It is frequently necessary for such manufacturers to refinish or replate the socket casing, including the cap, to match or harmonize with the particular electric fixture of which it is to be a part, Before such replating or refinishing, however, it is necessary to remove the insulating lining from the socket shell. The lower fiber lining or insulating lining, which insulates the shell portion of the socket, readily slips out of the. shell so that its removal does not.

mar it or require any particular care. The removal of the lining from the cap, however, is quite a delicate operation, for'the lining has to be priied off or otherwise removed from the interior locking mechanism,

.mounted on the interior of {the cap, and

which cooperates with the notches, fingers, or other' portions of the insulating lining, to hold it in its position within the cap. This frequently mars the insulating, lining. The frequency and extent of the damage to the lining depends upon the labor employed for this purpose. Usually unskilled labor is employed with the result that large numbers of the insulating linings have been" either ruined by being removed from the interior locking surfaces in the cap, or have been so torn or marred that when they were again placed 'in the cap, after it hasbeen replated or refinished, it was liable-not to retain its position and the tears or cracks in the lining caused by its removal and re positioning would often defeat the very purpose of providing the capwith an insulation to prevent it from'becoming electrified with possible damage to the fixture or shock to the person who may be handling it after the fixture has been installed.-

Often the interior insulating lining was so torn or marred that it could not be placed back in .the cap and consequently either a new lining had to be substituted or, if one was not at hand, the manufacture of the entire electric light socket, or the entire fixture of which it was to form a part would have to be delayed until a new lining could be obtained. In some cases where unskilled labor was employed and speed in re-assembling the" sockets after replating was demanlledby the employer, no lining would be placed in some of the sockets.

By any invention I avoid cutting or otherwise tharring the insulating lining so that. therelis notendency for it to tear or other- WlStL- ecome damaged or ruined by placing it originally'in the cap or in removing an repositioning it to permit replating or re finishing of the cap.

\vention shown in the drawing-,3 proved cap formed of any apprQt ed mate In the illustrative embodiment of my inis y $01 example the point 5, ljprovide' the cap with a cylindrical portion 6 having a smooth surface on the interior of the cap and preferably also on this cylindrical portion 6 l1 bend in the upper portion 7 of the cap until it engages with the nipple 2 to which it may be secured by upsettingthe end 8' of the nipple or the two may be secured together in any other approved manner.

My improved cap may be formed by spinng or in any other approved manner. Vv th this cap I use a removable insulating lining 9 formed of any suitable material usually of fiber, and provide it with a cylindrical edge, the diameter of which is just a trifle greater than the internaldiameter of the cylindrical portion 6 of the metal cap 1. The upper ortion ll of the insulating lining 9 is slig tly convex, as shown, and provided with an opening 12 i or the passage of v the feed wires (notshown).

In Fig. 2 I have shown the removable in;

sulating lining 9 about to lie-positioned within its smooth cylindrical seatfii In pressing the lining into its seat," some slight pressure i has to be employed, for the cylindrical the exterior as shown. From seat is of an appreciably smaller diameter. resiliency of the lining is such' that after being once positioned it will be securely held within the cap. Nhen, however, it is desired to remove it for any purpose, as for example to replate or refinish the cap, it is merely necessary to take any blunt tool and pass it through the nipple 2 until it engages with the upper portion 11 of. the lining, the opening 12 being preferably 9f slightly smaller diameter than the opening in the nipple 2' i p The Withdrawal of the removable insulating lining 9 does not mar it for it is made to simply slide upon the interior cylindricalsurface 6 of the shell. It can be repositioned, as previously described, Without damage to itself or to the cap.

Having thus described this invention in connection with several illustrative embodiments thereof to the details of which I do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claim. a

An insulating lining for socket shell caps and the like, said lining having a convex or dome-shaped upper portion and. a cylindrical fiangewhereby, when said lining is in sorted in a socket shell cap having a petticoat of less'diameter than said lining the flange of the lining will be frictionally rei'tained by said petticoatand whereby any pressure upon the top of the dome-shaped portion of the lining will cause a spreading of said flange and a tightening of its fit in said petticoa't.

' Josnrn nnnrn'.

Witnesses:

' FRANK S. V. Sras, E. A. THACHER.

The 

